A Clash of Magics by Guy Antibes (read this if txt) 📕

rehabilitation from being under the direction of the two real criminals. The men are under my protection for a while, so treat them kindly.”

“They should be dead!” said a voice from the crowd.

“Is that what you would want if you were one of them?” Trevor said. “I will need new constables and a new chief constable for Parkintown. If you are interested, talk to Keith Garman, who has agreed to pitch in during the transition. If you don’t mind, I have a breakfast to finish as do some of you. Go back to your homes or go to work while we are sorting all this out.”

Trevor started back to the ducal residence when Jacob Stoolage caught up to him.

“Are you sure you should be heading to Ginster?” the man asked. “I can’t be your regent. I just don’t have the energy anymore.”

“I only want you to assist as you are able, but if you can help Keith Garman for the next few months, I would appreciate it. He was the son of a duke in Upperville on the other side of Bassington.”

“I know of it, but I thought Worto and the current duke killed Upperville’s ruler and his family.”

Trevor shook his head. “Keith was impressed into service at the institute in the mountains north of here. He stayed for ten years and then was released from service. He is a good man in need of a good challenge, but he needs a mentor.”

Jacob grinned. “In that case, I agree. I could tell you wanted to use him in all this.”

“Help him select good people. I forgot, does Parkintown have a mayor? Does Listenwell have a guard of any kind?” Trevor asked.

“No to both. Summer wanted control and used the constables to throw their weight around the entire domain. You’ll find the people are happier the farther they are from the city.”

Trevor laughed. “I’ll want the people to elect a mayor for the city, and I want a guard established. The constables will not qualify. I’ll put Keith and you in charge of that, too. I have to get to Ginster and back.”

Chapter Two

~

“I

heard about you cleaning out the constabulary,” the steward at the ducal manor house said. “It was awe-inspiring. I imagine you will be spending more time here?”

Trevor told him that he was on the way to Ginster and that Keith Garman would monitor his duties, but Trevor would appreciate him staying on as long as everything he did was acceptable to Keith.

“I can do that. I won’t deny I took advantage of Lord Summer, but that will end,” the steward said.

Trevor didn’t believe that all foolishness would end, but he was sure with Keith spending a little time with the man, they had a good chance of coming to an understanding.

“Keep everything intact for my return,” Trevor said. “Parkintown will have a new mayor by the time I get back, so I will be spending more time out here.” He smiled at the steward. “Now that that is out of the way, my friends and I will be spending the night. They would like a tour while I poke around the place on my own.”

While Brother Yvan, Reena, and Lissa were given a tour, Trevor wandered around the house, looking at places that the steward had left off his initial tour. He expected the house to be in the same excellent condition that it was on his initial tour. Trevor wasn’t disappointed. He sat in the servant’s dining room close to the big kitchen, watching the servants walk by in the corridor.

Whoever built the residence and the manor house had done an excellent job. Trevor didn’t feel as though he deserved it, but he would work on that after whatever the head seer wanted him to do was finished. Lissa would fit into his plans. At this point, he could see her in the manor house with him.

After a pleasant night’s stay, they left the manor. They all took one last look before the estate was lost to view.

“The only thing missing in the manor is a family chapel,” Brother Yvan said. “There is one in the ducal residence in Parkintown, but the bishop at Dryden’s church in Parkintown told me that Summer never used it to his knowledge.”

“Maybe the one you build in the manor can have a niche to Selara,” Reena said with a laugh.

Trevor didn’t know if she was serious or not, but Lissa still gazed at the manor.

“I’d like to revisit it,” she said.

Trevor knew what she was thinking. “I’ll make sure that happens,” Trevor said, not knowing if he’d be able to deliver on that promise. “The steward needs a little oversight,” he said, “but he is doing an excellent job keeping the place in order.”

“Better than the condition of any of your father’s properties in Presidon, but then, both the duke’s residence and the manor aren’t even a hundred years old,” Brother Yvan said.

Each of them talked about improvements they would make to both residences. Trevor let them talk, but he didn’t have any desire to change anything at that moment. He was more concerned about how he could learn to perform better as a duke than his father did as king. Looming in the background, King Worto and Gareeze Plissaki could bring his Listenwell dream to total ruin. Because of that, he didn’t get as excited about making improvements to Listenwell as his friends. For now, Trevor would travel to Ginster and learn what his immediate future might hold.

~

Trevor observed the countryside more closely than he had during any of his other trips on the southern side of Brachia. He decided he could get used to managing Listenwell. They ate at the last inn before crossing into the country of Okora.

“I had never been to Brachia